How to Take the Stink Out of Furniture

Your average furniture upholstery is surrounded by strong smells, including human feet, animal hair and spilled food bits. Over time, your upholstery absorbs those scents and can start to seriously stink. You don't have to resort to harsh chemicals to remove those odors, though. Sticking with simple and effective cleansers means your supplies cost less than commercial products and remain earth-friendly, even after they go into a trash bag or compost heap. (See References 4)

1

Move the furniture you intend to clean to a dry area outdoors or to a well-ventilated area indoors. Place a tarp on the ground next to the furniture. Remove any cushions, pillows or covers from the piece and take them outdoors to the lawn. Shake the accessories over the grass to remove any surface dirt before placing them on the tarp.

2

Secure any basic nozzle attachment onto the hose of an energy-efficient vacuum cleaner. Go over the furniture and accessories, such as cushions and pads, with the hose slowly to suck away any loose dirt below the surface.

3

Mix 2 cups of warm water and 1 tsp. castile or other vegetable-based liquid soap in the bucket. Wet the sponge and rag in the water and wring well. Wrap the damp rag around the sponge to create a gentle scouring brush for the upholstery.

4

Scrub any fabric parts or accessories gently with the homemade brush, rinsing and wringing out as needed. Go over any heavy soiled spots repeatedly to work the dirt out. Repeat the process on both sides of any cushions or pillows and on any solid parts, such as wood or metal.

5

Pat the soaked areas of the furniture gently with a dry rag to remove the excess water and speed up drying time. Wipe the solid surfaces dry with a clean rag. Allow the fabric and solid parts to dry completely, flipping any cushions or pillows so that they dry on both sides.

6

Sprinkle an even layer of baking soda over the dried furniture and accessories. Wait anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours, depending on the smell intensity, for the baking soda to absorb some of the odor. Vacuum the powder away gently with the hose. Repeat the process on both sides of any cushions or pillows that need it.

Things You Will Need

Tarp

Vacuum cleaner

Bucket

Liquid soap

Sponge

Rags

Baking soda

Tip

If you're dealing with an extreme odor, try repeating the entire process multiple times over several days to help work the stink out of the furniture.

There are many kinds of earth-friendly liquid soap, but one of the most common is simple vegetable oil soap. Vegetable oil soaps are also known as castile soap, although traditional castile is only made with olive oil.

About the Author

A writer since 2000, Aya Pauli has covered a variety of topics including food, fashion, beauty, health, parenting, education, decor and crafts. Her award-winning recipes have been published in food magazines such as "Taste of Home," and she is also the author of a salad cookbook. Pauli's craft projects appear in major manufacturer websites, including Dow Styrofoam. She also holds a CDA in early childhood education and works as a preschool teacher in Wyoming.